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Vincenzo Natali's 'Neuromancer' Adaptation Has Secured Financing

by Alex Billington
May 19, 2011

It was officially confirmed last summer that Cube and Splice director Vincenzo Natali was attached to direct the adaptation of William Gibson's seminal sci-fi novel Neuromancer. This is a project that has been in the works for a long time, but it's now officially coming sometime soon. A press release was put out (via AICN) announcing that Seven Arts Pictures and GFM Films have secured early sales from distributors during Cannes. Territories sold include: South Korea and Thailand, Taiwan, China, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Poland and the Middle East. Not in the US yet, but at least they have some financing so far.

"Response to this cult cyberspace thriller has been tremendous and the film ticks a lot of boxes with distributors. The film will be a Canadian-European co-production with principal photography occurring in Canada, Istanbul, Tokyo, and London. Work on the visual effects has already begun, with an anticipated start date in the first quarter of 2012," said Kate Hoffman, COO of Seven Arts. I'm very excited to see this adaptation come together, not only because I'm looking forward to Vincenzo Natali's next movies, but also because this is an awesome sci-fi novel that could make a great movie. As long as they've got a solid budget.

Neuromancer is the story of a washed-up computer hacker hired by a mysterious employer to work on the ultimate hack. "Case was the hottest computer cowboy cruising the information superhighway... Then he double-crossed the wrong people, who caught up with him in a big way--and burned the talent out of his brain, micron by micron. Banished from cyberspace, trapped in the meat of his physical body, Case courted death in the high-tech underworld. Until a shadowy conspiracy offered him a second chance--and a cure--for a price." We'll keep you updated on this! Jump over to SlashFilm for quotes from Natali on Neuromancer.

Related categories: Hype, Movie News, Opinions

Neuromancer

I'm a sucker for movies with awesome titles, looking forward to it!
Anonymous

Neuromancer was incredible, as a novel, but I fear William Gibson's excellent writing will be lost when translated to film. However, the story itself remains one of the best things to have come out of the cyberpunk movement, and I'll be first in line to see it. The sequel, Count Zero, was better story-wise, in my opinion. The conclusion, Mona Lisa Overdrive, was a bit of a disappointment. Also, I will throw a chair to the first person that looks at the movie and says "it's just a copy of The Matrix."

JL

I had heard that The Matrix was a loose adaptation of Neuromancer, and tried to find it at my local library to read. A lot of people are going to see similarities to The Matrix when this comes out, and out of ignorance are going to say, "Oh, I see, they copied The Matrix." But I say again, out of ignorance (or they could be trolling), so don't throw chairs just yet. Calmly explain to them that there was something going on before The Matrix (which, by the way, was a pretty damn good sci-fi movie) and that maybe they should read the source material before they rush to judgement.

Lebowski

Fyi, The Matrix is not an adaptation of Neuromancer is any way at all. Neuromancer is a dirty, drugged up journey through the dregs of future society. And beyond that, it is a legitimately intelligent and speculative novel - Gibson has incredible (and alarmingly powerful and in some cases accurate) thing to say about the potential of the internet and digitized society. The Matrix just bilked some ideas from Baurillard and called it a day. Still a great film though, but not anything like the monster that Neuromancer is.

JL

Good to know. I'll look up this Baurillard, and keep trying to find a free copy of Neuromancer. I don't like to buy books. I think the Matrix also pulled some inspiration from the life of Jesus, at least in the second and third installments. By the way, are you really a Lebowski, or do you just like the movie? It's one of my favorites.

Lebowski

Ha I wish I was actually a Lebowski. Since my family is of polish extraction it isn't that far off my real name

Anonymous

agreed, it is an incredible novel. and yes, it was published in 1984, so a bit difficult to be a Matrix copy! the main problem with any adaptation might be that it was way ahead of its time, in that much of the fiction it contains is now fact. like many sacred cows, done well, accurately conveying Gibson's vision, this would be awe-inspiring. done badly... well, they can't possibly do worse than the Keanu-starring version of Gibson's Johnny Mnemonic.
Anonymous

Neuromancer didn't come out of the cyberpunk movement. Gibson created the movement.

lando

it will be interesting to see how this gets adapted. Oh god, please no matrix references! may this look and be nothing like that. I remember reading about this a few years back with Chris Cunningham set to direct working with richard james (aphex twin) for the soundtrack...guess that is not happening.
Anonymous

"Splice" was oneof the worst films I have ever seen...
Lebowski

The Cube was schlocky fun, but Neuromancer is such a big, messy, amorphous and flawless thing. You have the birth of AI's alongside rasta weed spaceships, dominative silver eyed female ninjas, and a protagonist who is weak, drug addled and somewhat unlikeable (at least until the later parts of the book). There are very, very few directors who could translate the full majesty of this text to screen. And Natali is definitely not one of them. Ridley Scott could probably have a go, maybe Darren Aronofosky or Michael Winterbottom.
Staatz

Doesn't seem like it could be done well, but I would love to be proved wrong, at least it would get more people reading the scifi classics
Eduard T

This is great, I've been expecting Neuromancer movie for a long time